Half to edward p



D. BEAN.

(No Model.)

TRUNK.

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UNITED STATES Y PATENT @rricn.

EDWARD D. BEAN, OF ARLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO EDIVARD P. WHITE, OF SAME PLACE.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,007, dated November 2, 1897. Application filed December 9, 1896. Serial No. 615,015. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. BEAN, of Arlington, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trunks, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to trunks, but applies also to cases and boxes of all kinds that have covers that are adapted to he removed and replaced; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of the cover and its connections.

It also consists in certain details which may be best understood by reference to the drawings and specification.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view in perspective showing trunk open. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of a part of the trunk, the cover being represented Fig. 3 is a cross vertical section as closed. showing in section the cover in its open position. Fig. at shows in perspective one of the upper rear corner-pieces. Fig. 5 shows in perspective one of the upper front cornerpieces. Fig. 6 shows in perspective (looking from under) one of the lower corner-pieces. Fig. 7 shows in vertical section,taken on line a: so of Fig. 2, the manner of connecting the cover to the ends of the trunk, so that it may be free to slide back and forth.

I have chosen for illustration a trunk, but my improvement will apply equally well to any box or packing-case of which the'cover is to be repeatedly removed and replaced.

In the drawings the body of the trunk is represented by A B, which may be made of any style, shape, and size and may be divided into compartments and provided with trays and other accessories as may be desired.

The cover is shown in position in Fig. 2, and consists of the parts 0 D E F, which are hinged together, the part F being hinged to the back of the trunk. (See Fig. 3.)

The cover when being closed slides under the end overhanging clips N N, and the front edge of the member G slips under the clips M M, its corners being held by the overhanging corner-pieces II H H H H 11*, as shown.

The parts 0 D E F, that form the cover, may be reinforced by strips 0 E D for instance.

The number of members that together form the cover may be varied without changing the character or scope of the invention.

In the trunk illustrated I use two locks P, one at each end of the trunk. The hasp of the lock is shown at P. The lock may be of any desired kind, simple or complex, as the user may require.

The central piece D of the cover is made narrow and is provided with a metal clip R, Fig. 7, which engages with a clip S, attached to the inside of the end of the trunk, so that the said part D can freely slide from front to rear. The clip S is also shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

One of the rear corner-pieces of my trunk is shown in Fig. 4. These corner-pieces are used on the rear part only, and the boss K not undercut, as it only serves as astrengthening-guard and as a friction-piece when the trunk is dragged on its edge or upside down.

The front corner-pieces II II H 5, are undercut, as indicated at H and serve as clips to hold down the corners of the cover of the trunk.

The rounded parts H of the corner-pieces serve as bosses to drag the trunk upon and also as guards for protecting the trunk.

The lower corner-pieces L, one of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 6, are made as shown and are each provided with two bosses L and L The boss L is on the outer corner, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, and serves as a guard and also to reduce friction in dragging the trunk on its side or edges. The boss L is located directly under the trunk and takes the place of a caster or roller to admit of moving the trunk 0n the floor or carpet without injury. To open my trunk, the hasps P P of the locks P P are released by unlocking by the key, this action releasing the pieces E and F, and as the hinges E, that connect these parts, are provided with springs (not shown) which have a tendency to throw up the parts E F, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the said parts E and F will rise so as to lift the catch of the hasp out of connection with the lock,

so that the user can push the members and D back under and free them from the clips N and into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus opening the trunk.

The trunk can be closed by turning the member 0 down and sliding it forward under the clips N N. This will cause the other parts of the cover to follow. A slight pressure at the junction of the members E F will force them down and cause the catch of the 1 hasp to engage with the locking device, so that the cover is closed and locked.

Instead of having the hinges E provided 5 with springs, springs may be placed in the ends of the trunk near the locks and serve the same purpose, or springs may be omitted altogether and the members E F lifted by, hand, so as to draw the catch of the hasps out of the locks.

It will be observed that the novelty of my invention is principally embodied in the cover of the trunk and its adjuncts. The cover consists of four distinct parts, which may be referred to as follows: first, a rear part F, hinged to the rear of the trunk; second, a

folding part E, hinged to the rear part F and. also to a sliding part D and adapted to fold against the rear part; third, a sliding part D, adapted to be moved back and forth and when the trunk is closed to engage with the overhanging clips N N, which in connection with the locks P P hold the cover securely in place; 7

fourth, the part 0, which is hinged to the sliding part D and forms the front part of the cover.

upper edges of the wall-pieces of the trunk at their corner junctions. This construction insures the corner-pieces against being forced downward by any weight or blow that they I may be subjected to. The rear corner-pieces K also have a projecting part K, that rests upon the corner junctions of the side pieces. In fact, if the trunk be turned upside down, so as to lie in that position on the floor, the corner-pieces will prevent the top-of the trunk from injury.

I claim-- 1. In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F, hinged to the back of the trunk, afolding memberE, hinged to thesaid rear member, a sliding member D, hinged to the said folding member and holding it, overhanging clips N N, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member, a front folding member 0, hinged to the said sliding member and an overhanging clip M, adapted to engage with and hold the said front member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F, hinged to the back of the trunk,'a folding member E, hinged to the said rear member, lock-hasps P P attached to said folding member, locks P P, a sliding member D, hinged to the said folding member and holding it, overhanging clips N N, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member, a front folding member C, hinged to the said sliding member, and an overhanging clip M, adapted to engage with and hold the said front member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F, hinged to the back of the trunk-,afolding member E, hinged to the said rear member, a sliding member D, hinged to the said folding member and hold ing it, clips R and S respectively attached to the sliding member .and to the walls of the trunk whereby the said sliding member is held yet free to slide, overhanging clips N N, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member, a front folding member 0, hinged to the said sliding member, and an overhanging clip M, adapted to engage with and hold the said front member, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a trunk or similar receptacle, a cover consisting of a rear member F, hinged to the back of the trunk, a folding member E, hinged to the said rear member, spring-hinges connecting the rear and folding members, a slid- 'j ing member D, hinged to the said folding The front corner-pieces, one of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 5, have a part memberandholding it,overhangin g clips N N, adapted to engage with and hold the said sliding member, a front folding memberC, hinged to the said sliding member, and an overhanging clip M, adapted to engage with and hold the said front member, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

- 5. In the cover of a trunk or similar receptacle, in combination, a rear member hinged to the back of the trunk, a folding member hinged to said rear member, a sliding member hinged to said folding member, a front folding member hinged to said sliding member, mechanism adapted to prevent the sliding member from lifting from the trunk but to allow it to slide laterally, and suitable locks and fastenings for securing the folding members when the cover is closed,- substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this2d day of December, A. D. 1896.

EDWARD D. BEAN.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. PARKER, FRANK G. I-IATTIE.

IIO 

